Footwear-pressing apparatus



Dec. 8, 1942- s. D. KLYCE FOOTWEAR PRESSING APPARATUS Filed May 13, 1941 E E17 CE Patented Dec. 8, 1942 FOOTWEAR-FEE S SING APPARATUS Stephen D. Klyce, Lexington, Mass, assignor to Ihe B. F. Goodrich Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application May 13, 1941, Serial No. 393,155

12 Claims.

This invention relates to footwear-pressing,

apparatus and to applying trim strips or foxing to footwear, and especially to the pressing of the toe-guard strips into adhesion with rubber or rubber and fabric footwear such as tennis shoes,

overshoes, and other types of footwear wherein such toe-guards are desirable for reinforcement and decoration.

In rubber and rubber and fabric footwear of the overshoe and tennis shoe type it is often desirable to provide a reinforcing toe-strip or toeguard of rubber or other rubber-like material, or of leather or fabric, to protect the foremost portion of such footwear from excessive wear, and also to protect the foot of the wearer. Because of the conditions to which footwear of this type are sometimes subjected in use and because scufiing and striking of the toe portion may often occur, it is desirable that a toe-guard be uniformly and firmly bonded to the shoe assembly.

Wrinkling or other distortion of the toe-strip, or non-uniform or imperfect adhesion of the strip or guard to a shoe may result in pulling-away or separation of the same from the shoe under the stresses encountered in use.

The chief objects of the invention are to provide improved -footwear-pressing apparatus, to provide improved apparatus for pressing toeguard strips into adhesion with footwear; to provide directionally-controlled, firmly-confined fluid-pressure pressing means; to provide apparatus for adhesively uniting toe-guard strips or foxing to the toe-portion of footwear uniformly and without wrinkling or otherwise distorting the strip or foxing; to provide for positively-con trolled, rapid release of fluid pressure; to provide convenient means for locking and unlocking footfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of shoe-pressing apparatus constructed in accordance with and embodying the invention, parts being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a section on an enlarged scale taken along the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an article of footwear illustrative of a type in the construc-,-

tion of which the apparatus of the invention is useful.

To the end of providing for uniform and strong adhesion of toe-guard strips to footwear without wrinkling, and in the attainment of the other objects of the invention, apparatus may be provided as shown in the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing.

A flexible, U-shaped pressure-fluid receiving tube It of distortable sheet material, preferably elastic, such as rubber or other rubber-like material, with or without'a, reinforcement of fabric, is adapted to receive the sides of the toe-portion of a shoe orovershoe in continuous relation.

The tube Hi has an inner peripheral wall II which in section is concave in its relaxed condition, as indicated at Ila in Fig. 2, preferably around the entire extent of such peripheral wall. Such wall is adapted to fit snugly and smoothly about the toe-portion of a shoe when the tube I 0 is expanded by fluid under pressure. The outline of an article of footwear, which is preferably mounted on a last to provide desirable rigidity is indicated by broken lines at lZa in Fig, 3 with a toe-guard strip I21), mounted thereon.

Alternatively, the U-shaped pressing means may comprise an inner expansible wall and rigid side and back members secured thereto in sealed relation to provide for expansion all in the direction inwardly of the pressing means and toward the work.

The pressing tube I0 is retained by a partiallyencircling frame which, to permit lateral adjustability, is preferably made up of two members [3, l3, each extending about a side of the U- shaped tube H). The tube-retaining frame members l3, l3 substantially enclose the top and the shoe i2 and the sides thereof to press uniformly against a toe-guard strip I2b placed in the desired position on the shoe and to adhesively unite the same to the shoe I2 by pressure.

The surface of the pre-formed, shoe-contactng groove It, being shaped to the configuration of the sides of the toe-portion of the shoe before contact, the pressure applied to the shoe by the inflated tube is substantially uniform at the areas where pressure is desirable to effect pressingand sliding of the toe-guard on the shoe or wrinkling of the toe-guard strip is avoided.

The unrestrained ends of the side of the U- shaped tube l permit movement thereof in the longitudinal direction or a tendency for such movement under expansion, with the result that any tendency to stretch or wipe the toeguard strips is in the direction of the margins of the strips. Thus the strip is in effect rolled-on by the action of the expansible tube It! without objectionable wrinkling.

As a result of the three-sided restraint of the tube l0 under expansion, a maximum of pressure is obtained against the shoe in the working area to ensure a firm bond while a minimum of mechanical effort is expended.

Flange l4, I4 having slots I5, l5 therein, are provided integral with the frame members l3, I3 for receiving bolts l6, Hi to permit adjustable clamping of the frame-members l3, I3 to a work supporting table l1. The table [1 may be mounted on suitable supporting members at a convenient working height, for example, by legs I8, l8 and suitable cross frame members, one of which is shown at l9.

Pressure-fluid may be supplied to the tube ID from any suitable pumping means or other source, but preferably by a diaphragm pump 26 as shown in the drawing. The pump 26 may be bolted to the table or otherwise suitably disposed, and is in communication with the tube In by means of a connecting pipe 2|. A bleeder valve is desirable at the highest point in the pressure fluid system to permit expulsion of undesirable air so that the system may be filled with substantially incompressible fluid so that a direct, controlled intensity of pressure may be applied against the work. Conveniently, the bleeder valve may be in the form of a tube 22, integral with the tube In, and a manually adjustable clamp 23.

The diaphragm of the pump 20 may comprise a rigid central plate 24 and an annular flexible portion 25 connecting the plate 24 with the sides of the pump 20 in a manner such that fluid is sealed therein and the possibility of leakage is avoided. One end of a connecting-rod 26 is secured to the rigid central plate 24 of the diaphragm and pivotally connected to an arm 21 which is fulcrumed to brackets 28, 28 mounted on a cross member 29 supported by cross-frame members l9, IS. the arm 21 is adapted to provide for convenient operation of the apparatus.

A tension spring 3| is fixed to the arm 21 and to a bracket 32 mounted on the cross-member 29 to provide for quick release of the pressure in the tub I!) when the operators foot is removed from the pedal 30 by pulling the diaphragm of the pump 20 in the downward direction from positions 24a, 25a, to the positions 24, 25 as indi-- cated in Fig. 2, under the spring 3! transmitted through the connecting linkage. The springaction withdrawal of pressure fluid from the tube Ill assists the force of gravity and eliminates the necessity of a delay between the end of the pressing operation and release of footwear from the grip of the U-shaped tube l6.

Conveniently operable holding means are desirable to retain a shoe in the working position against the pressure of the tube [6 when expanded and may comprise a manually operated lever arm 33 fulcrumed at a pin 34 which pin is removably inserted in one of a plurality of holes 35, 35 in a pair of lever arm guide bars 36, 36

which are fixed to the work-supporting table 11. The plurality of holes 35, 35 are provided to permit adjustment of the holding means to accommodate varying sizes of footwear in the Work area defined by the U-shape of the tube l0. An arcuate flange 31 may be provided on the lever arm 33 to engage the heel portion of the footwear in non-slipping relation and hold the footwear firmly in position against the working pressure. An additional pair of guiding bars 38, 38 fixed to the table l1 may be desirable to supplement the guiding bars 36,36 in defining restrictive limits to up and down movement of the lever arm 33.

For locking the lever arm 33 while pressing is being effected, I provide a rod 39 pivotally connected to the lever arm 33 and slidably held in an aperture 46 in a plate 4! which is hinged to 41a to a second plate 42 fixed to the table 11. A lever arm 43, integral with the rod-holding plate 4|, is adapted to lock the rod 39 in the aperture 4!! when the lever arm 43 is moved in the downward direction and is connected by a wire 44 and tension spring 45 to the arm 21 at a position close to the foot pedal 36'. The spring 45 is desirable to permit free movement of the foot pedal in the operation of the diaphragm pump, While at the same time providing sufllcient force to lock the slidable rod 39.

The wire 44 may pass over a guide pulley 46 held by a small bracket 41 mounted on the bracket 32.

A tension spring 48 is anchored to the table I1 by means of a bracket 49 and is fixed to the rodholding plate 4| in a manner to release the looking action of the plate 4! on the rod 39 when the force is removed from the foot pedal 36.

In the operation of the apparatus of the invention, a toe-guard strip lZb is placed on a shoe, for example a shoe of the type shown in Fig. 3, and the shoe is placed, as indicated by the broken lines at |2a in Figs. 1 and 2', on a work-supporting bracket 50 adapted to hold the A foot pedal 30 at the end of footwear at the desired height, and the lever 33 is pulled by hand about the pin 34 to a position such that the arcuate flange 31 contacts the heel portion of the shoe and pushes the same into contact with the inside of the collapsed U-shaped tube I0. The pedal 30 is then depressed by the foot, pulling the lever arm 43 in the downward direction to lock the plate 4| in engagement with the rod 39 and maintain the position of the lever 33 and the shoe-engaging flange 31 to hold the shoe firmly in position.

' 29 is pushed in the upward direction by the movement of the arm 21 and the connecting rod 26, thereby forcing pressure fluid into the tube I0 and expanding the same to press the toe-guard strip into adhesion with the shoe assembly.

Because the inner wall 1 I of the U-shaped tube In is adapted to conform to the configuration of the portion of the fore-part of a shoe to be worked on, and because expansion of the tube is substantially all inwardly of the tube I0, only a relatively slight amount of expansion is necessary to effect the desired pressing, and because the pressure is evenly, firmly and rapidly applied, only a short interval of time is required to effect adhesion of a toe-guard strip to the shoe. A tendency to longitudinal movement of the sides of the tube under expansion as a result of the tube restraint provided, provides a wiping action or rolling-down of the toe-guard strip toward the rear margins thereof so that any distortion will be a stretching or possibly a slight tensioning of the strip and better adhesion is obtained while wrinkling is avoided.

During the actual pressing, the three springs 3|, 45 and 48 are under tension and consequently, when the depressing force on the pedal 3!! is released, the tension stored in the springs, but principally that of the spring 3|, pulls the pedal end of the arm 2! in the upward direction draining the pressure fluid out of the tube In and collapsing the same, and the force of the spring 48 releases the locking force of the plate 4| on the rod 39, the flange 31 may be pushed out of engagement with the shoe by means of the lever arm 33, and the shoe may be removed with the toe-guard strip adhesively united thereto.

Convenience of operation is afforded by the provision of the single pedal 3!] for effecting both locking and expansion. For example, an operator may place a shoe in position in the apparatus with his right hand, pull the lever 33 with his left hand, and lock the shoe in place and expand the tube if! by depressing the food pedal 30. The operator may then pick up another shoe with his right hand, release the pedal 30, thereby collapsing the tube It and unlocking the holding means, and he may then remove the pressed shoe with his left hand and with his right hand place the next shoe to be pressed.

Variations may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as it is defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. Footwear-pressing apparatus comprising means including an expansible wall for receiving an end of the footwear, manually operable lever means for urging the end of the footwear against said wall, and lever means including a foot pedal for locking the footwear in position.

2. Footwear-pressing apparatus comprising means including an expansible wall for receiving a portion of the footwear, means for supplying pressure-fluid to distend said expansible wall, manually operable lever means for urging the footwear against said wall, and foot-operable lever means for locking the footwear in position while actuating said pressure-fluid supply means to effect pressing of the footwear.

3. Footwear-pressing apparatus means including an expansible tube for receiving an end of the footwear, means for supplying pressure-fluid to expand said expansible tube, manually operable lever means for urging the end of the footwear against said wall, and lever means for locking the footwear in position while actuating said pressure-fluid supply means to effect pressing of the footwear, the last said lever means having tension means operable when the lever means is operated to provide for quick release of pressure and unlocking of the footwear member having an aperture therein for receiving said rod and locking the rod and the manually operable lever means to hold the footwear during comprising look the footwear and for actuating the pressurefluid supplying means.

5. Footwear-pressing apparatus comprising means including an expansible wall for receiving a portion of the footwear, lever means for urging the footwear against said expansible wall, a rod extending from said lever means, a pivoted member having an aperture therein for receiving said rod, resilient means for urging said pivoted member to an unlocking position on said rod, and means for urging said pivoted member to a locking position on said rod.

6. Footwear-pressing apparatus comprising means including an expansible tube for receiving an end of the footwear, a diaphragm pump for supplying pressure-fluid to the expansible tube, manually operable lever means for urging the end of the footwear against the expansible tube, a rod connected to said lever means, pivoted lever means having an aperture therein for receiving said rod and locking the rod and the manually operable lever means to hold the footwear during pressing, foot operable means for moving the pivoted lever means to lock the footwear and for actuating the diaphragm pump to force pressure-fluid into the expansible tube to effect pressing of the footwear, and means comprising tension springs operable when the foot operable means is depressed to provide quick retraction of pressure-fluid and release of the footwear when the depressing force is removed from the foot operable means.

7. Footwear-pressing apparatus comprising a U-shaped expansible member having an inner wall formed in the configuration of the side-portions of an end of the footwear and adapted to receive the same in contiguous relation and to press a protective strip into adhesive engagement therewith, confining means for restraining the expansible member and restricting expansion of the same to the inward direction against footwear placed therein for pressing, means for supplying pressure-fluid to distend said expansible member, manually operable lever means for urging the end of the footwear against the inner wall of said member and foot operable lever means for locking the footwear in position while actuating said pressure-fluid supply means to effect pressing of the footwear, said last-named lever means having tension means operable when the lever means is depressed to provide for quick release of pressure and unlocking of the footwear when the depressing force is removed from said lever.

8. Footwear-pressing apparatus comprising a U-shaped expansible tube having an inner wall formed to the configuration of the side-portions of the fore-part of the footwear and adapted to receive the same in contiguous relation and to press a toe-guard strip into adhesive engagement therewith, confining means for restraining said tube and restricting expansion of the same to the inward direction against footwear placed therein for pressing, a diaphragm pump for supplying pressure-fluid to the expansible tube, manually operable lever means for urging the end of the footwear against the expansible tube, a rod connected to said lever means, pivoted lever means having an aperture therein for receiving said rod and locking the rod and the manually operable lever means to hold the footpressing, and means for moving said member to wear in the pressing position, foot operable means for moving the pivoted lever means to lock the footwear and for actuating the diaphragm pump to force pressure-fluid into the expansible tube to effect pressing of the footwear, and means comprising tension springs operable when the foot operable means is depressed to provide quick retraction of pressurefluid and release of the footwear when the depressing force is removed from the foot operable means.

9. Footwear-pressing apparatus comprising means including an expansible wall for receiving a portion of the footwear, means for moving the footwear with respect to the wall to urge the footwear against said wall, and means for adjustably locking the first said means in any position within the range of footwear movement.

10. Footwear-pressing apparatus comprising means including an expansible wall for receiving a portion of the footwear, adjustably movable means for urging the footwear against the wall,

and means for adjustably locking said adjustably able single stroke pump means for expanding said wall into contact with the footwear by a single-stroke movement.

12. Footwear-pressing apparatus comprising a U-shaped expansible member having an inner wall formed in the configuration of the side portions of an end of the footwear and adapted to receive the same in contiguous relation and to press a protective strip into adhesive engagement therewith, confining means for restraining the expansible member and restricting expansion of the same to the inward direction against footwear placed therein for pressing, means for supplying pressure-fluid to distend said expansible member, means for urging the footwear against the inner wall of said member, and means for locking the footwear in position while actuating said pressure-fluid supply means to effect pressing of the footwear, said last-named means having tension means operable when said expansible member is placed under pressure to hold the footwear in position and providing for quick release of pressure and release 'of the footwear when such fluid-pressure is released.

STEPHEN D. KLYCE. 

